Georgia Judge Orders DA Fani Willis to Hand Over Communications Records

A judge in Georgia has ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to produce records related to her communications with special counsel Jack Smith and the U.S. House January 6 Committee. The ruling comes after Willis failed to comply with a request made under Georgia’s Open Records Act (ORA).

Judicial Watch’s Legal Action

The matter originated when the nonprofit group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against Willis in March 2023. The lawsuit was initiated after her office asserted there were no documents in its possession regarding any communications between Willis and Smith, as well as between Willis and the January 6 Committee.

However, subsequent investigations revealed that Willis’s office did indeed have relevant communications. On Monday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney mandated that Willis produce these records within five business days, highlighting a violation of Georgia’s open records law.

Default Judgment Against Willis

In his ruling, Judge McBurney granted a judgment by default after Willis failed to present a ‘meritorious defense’ to the lawsuit. Instead, her only claim was that she had not been properly served. “Plaintiff is thus entitled to judgment by default as if every item and paragraph of the complaint were supported by proper and sufficient evidence,” McBurney wrote in his decision. Additionally, he ordered Willis to pay Judicial Watch’s attorney’s fees.

A hearing to resolve the attorney’s fees and related costs is scheduled for December 20, 2024, at 10 a.m.

Implications and Reactions

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton expressed astonishment at the ruling, stating, “Fani Willis is something else. We’ve been doing this work for 30 years, and this is the first time in our experience a government official has been found in default for not showing up in court to answer an open records lawsuit.” Fitton further emphasized his eagerness to obtain any documents relating to what he characterizes as a “collusion” between the Biden administration, Nancy Pelosi’s Congress, and Willis’s office in relation to Trump’s prosecution.

Background on the January 6 Committee Investigation

The documents at the center of this dispute are significant, as they pertain to an investigation by the House Judiciary Committee. This inquiry is focused on whether Willis actively coordinated with the House January 6 Committee during their respective investigations. According to U.S. lawmakers, Willis had requested evidence from the Select Committee on January 6 for her own office’s use.

Charges Against Trump and Co-Defendants

In 2022, former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants entered not guilty pleas in connection with a racketeering indictment. The charges against him stem from allegations of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Specifically, Willis has charged Trump with one count of violating the Georgia RICO Act, three counts of criminal solicitation, six counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of filing false documents, and two counts of making false statements.

Plea Deals and Judicial Developments

In a separate but related development, four defendants who were charged alongside Trump accepted plea deals in exchange for their cooperation against the remaining defendants. While Trump’s legal team has pursued attempts to disqualify Willis from prosecuting the case, the charges against him have not been dropped. The case remains on hold as Trump and his co-defendants appeal a Fulton County judge’s decision to keep Willis on the case.

Notably, the Georgia Court of Appeals previously canceled scheduled oral arguments intended to explore whether either party could continue their respective legal actions, originally set for early December.

Conclusion

The situation surrounding Fani Willis, the Georgia Open Records Act, and the ongoing legal battles linked to Donald Trump continues to unfold. With the upcoming hearing about attorney’s fees and the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the interactions between Willis and federal officials, the implications of this ruling may have lasting effects on both local and national politics. As the case develops, many will be watching closely.

Fox News Digital’s Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.